Summit Picks Up Frankenstein Origin Story, ‘This Dark Endeavor’

Who out there has always wanted to learn more about what exactly drove Victor Frankenstein to become the brilliant but maniacal scientist who sought to defy death in Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel? Kenneth Opel did at least, and he organized his thoughts on the matter into a book he dubbed This Dark Endeavor, which will be published this summer.

Summit Entertainment has won the movie rights to Opel’s work, which is fully titled This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. The studio has brought onboard a specialist (or something like that) in the field of teens, romance, and the supernatural to produce the pic, in the form of Karen Rosenfelt (Twilight).

Deadline broke the news about Summit’s acquisition of This Dark Endeavor, an action-adventure tale that follows a young (presumably, adolescent) Victor Frankenstein as he and his best friend Elizabeth set out to produce the Elixir of Life, in the hopes of saving his sick twin brother, Konrad. Matters become difficult when a love triangle forms between the trio, in a tale that frequently makes reference to and sets up the main narrative of Shelley’s Frankenstein (a.k.a. The Modern Prometheus).

This Dark Endeavor marks the third in-development feature based off Shelley’s original text in some form, alongside Sony’s contemporary Frankenstein re-imagining and Guillermo del Toro’s long-gestating adaptation. While the novel Frankenstein itself is no stranger to the Hollywood scene, this is the first time a legitimate prequel to the iconic cautionary tale about science and mortality has been conceived. We’ve seen what effects V. Frankenstein’s legacy had on his descendants (sort of – see below for the punchline) – and now it shall be revealed what made him the twisted genius he was.

The eventual repercussions of Victor Frankenstein's actions.

Opel’s novel looks to be the latest addition to the ever-growing young adult supernatural romance genre of literature. Unlike Stephenie Meyer’s re-envisioning of the vampire and werewolf mythos, Dark Endeavor aims to expand upon and flesh out the history behind the classic Frankenstein tale. In that sense it’s kind of similar to next month’s Red Riding Hood (from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke – take that as you will), which adds teens, romance, and a Gothic touch to the famous fairy tale, so as to reveal “the truth” behind the legend.

While Dark Endeavor will lack the straightforward horror elements of Shelley’s original work, it sounds like more of a period action-adventure tale and less like just another story about broody teen romance and drama. That doesn’t guarantee that the book or its film adaptation will turn out to be interesting or even good, but it’s an encouraging thought for those who cringe at the prospect of Frankenstein being refashioned in some way for the Twihard crowd.

Does This Dark Endeavor sound like it has potential?

Source: Deadline

View the original article here

Summit Eying ‘Perks of Being A Wallflower’

Now that she’s finished her rather rigorous studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Emma Watson will try her hand at being a more regular troubled adolescent in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based off the popular (and often banned) novel by Stephen Chbosky.

The Harry Potter actress has been attached to the project since last year and now Summit Entertainment looks to pick up the teen life tale, which already has actor John Malkovich onboard as an independent producer.

Vulture broke the story about Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is told from the perspective of a troubled teenager who identifies himself as Charlie – a role that Percy Jackson & the Olympians star Logan Lerman will tackle. Charlie recounts his experiences as a high school freshman living in Pittsburgh circa 1991 through a series of diary-like letters to an anonymous figure (i.e. the reader) – so yes, for those who are wondering, Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel in the vein of Twilight. Moving on…

Watson is set to play Samantha (Sam), a senior who, along with her step-brother Parick, befriends the intelligent but socially awkward Charlie. Perks of Being a Wallflower tackles many a controversial (and messy) issue including teenage sex, drug use, abortion, molestation, struggles with homosexuality, and the difficulties of high school life in general. Chbosky’s novel pays homages to J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and could be considered an updated version of that classic coming of age tale.

Chbosky himself has a background in screenwriting and was responsible for scripting the cinematic adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway rock musical Rent. He is set to both write and direct the Perks of Being a Wallflower adaptation as well.

The main cast of 'Rent'.

While Watson will be playing another adolescent in Perks of Being a Wallflower, her character will be far removed from that of the brainy, brave, and beautiful Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise. Watson will get to show off her acting chops with a part that requires her to be far less self-assured, capable, and overall more confused about her direction in life – in other words, just your average young person.

Perks of Being a Wallflower features a whole lot of teen angst and more drama than (by and large) the majority of individuals endure during their high school years. It stands to be seen if Chbosky will deliver a harrowing account of one male youth’s rite of passage into adulthood, or an adaptation that comes off as too melodramatic and soapy for most moviegoers’ tastes.

Assuming Summit Entertainment does pick up the project, filming on The Perks of Being a Wallflower could begin this June.

Stay tuned for additional information and follow us on Twitter @screenrant and @feynmanguy for more movie and TV news.

Source: Vulture

View the original article here